Hello everyone,
Unfortunately, I live in California, and as most of you probably know, this causes me to have to use lead free projectiles when hunting (unless using an air rifle).
This usually isn’t too big of an issue because usually you can just go down in bullet weight and find something to stabilize in the twist rate of your rifle. However, the problem really begins with the 22LR. The only lead free ammo I am aware is produced by CCI and it is HORRIBLE!!!!! Shooting bagged and from the bench, it shot ok at 15 yards out of my 10/22, but then it started to go down hill quick and was soon more than 3.5 inches at 50. I know a lot of people will automatically assume it is me, but I am very confident in my abilities, so we can just skip those comments.
Typically, I use this round for small game and for helping manage coyote problems at my in-laws’ vineyard because it is quiet enough not to disturb the neighbors. However, I don’t feel comfortable using it for coyotes at sub 100 yard ranges if that is the accuracy I can expect.
As a result, I’ve been debating what I should do to address this. So far, I’ve considered purchasing a 22 hornet, but the twist rates are quite slow for the lead free bullets and accuracy reports have been mixed. I’ve also considered the 17wsm, but I’m not a huge 17 fan and would prefer to be able to reload for whatever I buy. This brings me to my next set of options purchasing a 1:8 or 1:9 twist 223, 1:9 twist 22-250, or a 1:7.5 twist 6mm creedmoor and creating reduced loads using light bullets such as Nosler’s Ballistic Tip Lead Free Varmint bullets. I am limiting to these options because I do not want to spend the money purchasing or building a custom rifle for this purpose. Ballistically, the 6mm creedmoor should produce the most stable bullet, but there is not a lot of data on reduced loads for it like there are with the 223 or 22-250. It also has a larger case capacity, meaning I might have to gear creative with some type of filler. Do you have any additional recommendations for me to consider?
My biggest concerns are accuracy, noise (no suppressors in California), and over penetration. This is why I am focused on these varmint type of rifles because I want the bullets to fragment on impact and pose less of a risk to carry off into a random direction after hitting bone (95% headshots).
I’ve even considered going the PCP route, but by the timeI purchased the gun, tanks, and all that gear, I would be in it more than a custom rifle.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Unfortunately, I live in California, and as most of you probably know, this causes me to have to use lead free projectiles when hunting (unless using an air rifle).
This usually isn’t too big of an issue because usually you can just go down in bullet weight and find something to stabilize in the twist rate of your rifle. However, the problem really begins with the 22LR. The only lead free ammo I am aware is produced by CCI and it is HORRIBLE!!!!! Shooting bagged and from the bench, it shot ok at 15 yards out of my 10/22, but then it started to go down hill quick and was soon more than 3.5 inches at 50. I know a lot of people will automatically assume it is me, but I am very confident in my abilities, so we can just skip those comments.
Typically, I use this round for small game and for helping manage coyote problems at my in-laws’ vineyard because it is quiet enough not to disturb the neighbors. However, I don’t feel comfortable using it for coyotes at sub 100 yard ranges if that is the accuracy I can expect.
As a result, I’ve been debating what I should do to address this. So far, I’ve considered purchasing a 22 hornet, but the twist rates are quite slow for the lead free bullets and accuracy reports have been mixed. I’ve also considered the 17wsm, but I’m not a huge 17 fan and would prefer to be able to reload for whatever I buy. This brings me to my next set of options purchasing a 1:8 or 1:9 twist 223, 1:9 twist 22-250, or a 1:7.5 twist 6mm creedmoor and creating reduced loads using light bullets such as Nosler’s Ballistic Tip Lead Free Varmint bullets. I am limiting to these options because I do not want to spend the money purchasing or building a custom rifle for this purpose. Ballistically, the 6mm creedmoor should produce the most stable bullet, but there is not a lot of data on reduced loads for it like there are with the 223 or 22-250. It also has a larger case capacity, meaning I might have to gear creative with some type of filler. Do you have any additional recommendations for me to consider?
My biggest concerns are accuracy, noise (no suppressors in California), and over penetration. This is why I am focused on these varmint type of rifles because I want the bullets to fragment on impact and pose less of a risk to carry off into a random direction after hitting bone (95% headshots).
I’ve even considered going the PCP route, but by the timeI purchased the gun, tanks, and all that gear, I would be in it more than a custom rifle.
Thanks for your thoughts.
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